audiobook Russia's War: A History of the Soviet Effort: 1941-1945 by Richard Overy in History

Review

0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Great Overview of an Under-Represented Part of the WarBy JamesonThis book provided a great; in-depth look at the Soviet Struggle during the second world war. The writing style was very approachable and covered the entire breadth of the Soviet effort. Overy did a great job citing sources and providing context for those who weren't familiar with some of the events surrounding the Eastern Front.One qualm that I may add about the book would be some of the repetitive nature of the writing. Overy has a tendency to repeat some of the key facts many times. Sometimes it felt repetitive; but overall; it was useful to get the information reinforced for the broader context of the story.5 of 6 people found the following review helpful. An intensely dramatic narrativeBy Robert E WilliamsonIn the spirit of Alexander Werth's 'Russia at War'; but enriched by many more documents available since Werth's book was written; this account achieves its effect by following the different strands of the story - military; economic; and social. It shows the terrible misjudgment and planning for defense by Stalin; the German strategy that nearly succeeded; the desperate struggle of the government to move key industries east to the Urals and beyond; which meant the Russian troops retreated with little defense against air and armour and suffered terrible losses against the Germans; but which made the future victories possible. It looks at the life of the troops; the decisions of the general staff; the incredible demands made on workers. It shows how these things came into focus at Stalingrad; so you understand why the terrible battle over several months was essential for both sides; and why it seemed the Russians were always losing until they were always winning; what the stakes were at Kursk where the German retreat began. This is not primarily a military history - it is a history of the Russian people in a violent desperate time; fighting essentially alone in the early months to stop the Nazi machine; making many mistakes; but surviving; under a leader who was paranoid; to a degree almost fatal; ruthless; brutal; and who continued to be so after the war. The book was basically the text for a British TV series; In the e-book version I have the index does not function. But the defects are small; and it is absolutely compelling and insightful.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. The Great Patriots War of Russia on the Eastern Front and from withinBy Richard C. GeschkeMost of us relate to the Second World War from the Anglo American view of battles fought from Anzio to the Battle of the Bulge and from Midway to Okinawa. Richard Overy takes us to a place few of us really know of. The Eastern Front remains an enigma to most Americans. Overy sheds light on this rather dark subject. The Author goes into detail as to Stalin's reasoning in appeasement to Germany in the Soviet German Pact of 1939. Overy begins by giving an explanation of Stalin's great purge of the General Staff of the Soviet Army in the 1930's and its later effect as to the preparedness of its Armed Forces in 1941. A narrative of the surprise attack of Operation Barbarossa shows us an unprepared Army and most of all an unprepared leader in Joseph Stalin. The fact that Stalin indeed froze at the inception of this invasion gave no confidence to the Allies such as they were at this time; and to America who at this point were mere spectators in this World drama. Included in Overy's assessment is how Stalin recovers from his initial shock and gathers his General Staff including his brightest star General Georgi K. Zhukov to provide a plan to counterattack the Germans and save Russia. It is the thesis of Mr. Overy that Stalin made a wise choice and let Zhukov and company direct the military efforts and that he not interfere. Indeed Stalin did do this throughout the struggle and it proved successful. The plight of the siege of Stalingrad and all its related brutalities and suffering are well documented. The great counterattack of Stalingrad onto the great armored battle of Kursk is related and analyzed. The most eye opening section of Overy's account is his chapter entitled "The Fight From Within". It's here that the real essence of the "Eastern Front" is brought to light. The people that lived in what I call the great buffer zone between Germany and its Prussian borders and the Western edge of Russia were the innocents who suffered the greatest. Overy's narrative of these "Partisan Groups" was tragic and non preventable. These people were treated as mere pawns and fodder in order to attain the objectives and wants of either Germany or Russia. The last great Russian push; Code Named Operation Bagration was the beginning of the end for Germany. This was the fall of the Swastika and the fall of Berlin. In all accounts Overy shows the brutality of it all. The Author goes into some of the diplomacy of Stalin; Churchill; FDR and later Truman. The elements of the "Cold War" are set in place. The return of war within Russia after victory is explained. A book on this phase alone is necessary to fully explain these rather odd policies and hostile actions. These all related to Stalin's increased paranoia which manifested itself from 1946 through to his death in 1953. Altogether this is a succinct and informative history of a long forgotten; hidden and unknown history. What Overy has done is to venture into unchartered territory. Great read!!